Panama City Mall's sad, unexpected ending
Above Photo of Panama City Mall on August 11, 1976 It was an exciting day for folks in the Panama City area in early August 1976. A much anticipated shopping destination would soon open to the public. As would always be the case, it was more than likely the typical hot, humid Florida summer morning. School kids were getting prepared to return to classes at local schools and were in need of not only school supplies and clothes (which would be purchased by their parents), but also a nice indoor, climate controlled shopping center to give them comfort from the miserable, humid heat found in Panama City, FL in August. The Panama City Mall held its grand opening on August 11, 1976 (as can be seen in the above photo). The Panama City Mall was designed and built by Charles N. Agree, an architect from Detroit. The mall's original anchor stores were Sears, and Gayfers. There's no way I would be able to figure an entire list of stores to have operated in the mall, but a few